Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 571 miles, a gas price of $4.281 and a diesel price of $6.489 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 36 | $153 | $180 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 52 | $222 | $261 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 63 | $272 | $320 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 71 | $306 | $359 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 82 | $349 | $411 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 71 | $463 | $545 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $196 in fuel alone, so it pays to rent only as much truck as you need.
Fuel prices at each end of the move
| Where | Gas | Diesel | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $4.249 | $6.470 | Boston average |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $4.312 | $6.508 | Central Atlantic average |
Prices at the two ends are within a few cents of each other, so where you fill up matters less than how fast you drive.
Weekly retail averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration for the week of October 19, 2026. Prices along the way will vary. EIA source
Planning the drive
A loaded box truck is slower than a car on hills and safest at moderate speeds, and most drivers find 450 miles a comfortable day. That makes Boston, MA to Pittsburgh, PA a 2-day drive, so budget for hotel nights and meals on top of fuel. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Pittsburgh, PA to Boston, MA.
More moves from Boston
- Boston to New York
- Boston to Los Angeles
- Boston to Chicago
- Boston to Houston
- Boston to Phoenix
- Boston to Philadelphia
- Boston to San Diego
- Boston to Dallas
- Boston to Austin
- Boston to Charlotte
- Boston to San Francisco
- Boston to Seattle
- Boston to Denver
- Boston to Nashville
- Boston to Atlanta
- Boston to Miami
- Boston to Las Vegas
- Boston to Orlando
- Boston to Tampa
- Boston to Raleigh
- Boston to San Antonio
- Boston to Jacksonville
- Boston to Columbus
- Boston to Indianapolis
- Boston to Sacramento
- Boston to Oklahoma City
- Boston to Portland
- Boston to Louisville
- Boston to Memphis
- Boston to Baltimore
- Boston to Washington
- Boston to Milwaukee
- Boston to Albuquerque
- Boston to Tucson
- Boston to Kansas City
- Boston to Salt Lake City
- Boston to Minneapolis
- Boston to Detroit
- Boston to Cleveland
- Boston to St. Louis
- Boston to Cincinnati
- Boston to New Orleans
- Boston to Boise
- Boston to Richmond
- Boston to Birmingham
- Boston to Omaha
- Boston to Charleston
- Boston to El Paso
More moves to Pittsburgh
- New York to Pittsburgh
- Los Angeles to Pittsburgh
- Chicago to Pittsburgh
- Houston to Pittsburgh
- Phoenix to Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
- San Diego to Pittsburgh
- Dallas to Pittsburgh
- Austin to Pittsburgh
- Charlotte to Pittsburgh
- San Francisco to Pittsburgh
- Seattle to Pittsburgh
- Denver to Pittsburgh
- Nashville to Pittsburgh
- Atlanta to Pittsburgh
- Miami to Pittsburgh
- Las Vegas to Pittsburgh
- Orlando to Pittsburgh
- Tampa to Pittsburgh
- Raleigh to Pittsburgh
- San Antonio to Pittsburgh
- Jacksonville to Pittsburgh
- Columbus to Pittsburgh
- Indianapolis to Pittsburgh
- Sacramento to Pittsburgh
- Oklahoma City to Pittsburgh
- Portland to Pittsburgh
- Louisville to Pittsburgh
- Memphis to Pittsburgh
- Baltimore to Pittsburgh
- Washington to Pittsburgh
- Milwaukee to Pittsburgh
- Albuquerque to Pittsburgh
- Tucson to Pittsburgh
- Kansas City to Pittsburgh
- Salt Lake City to Pittsburgh
- Minneapolis to Pittsburgh
- Detroit to Pittsburgh
- Cleveland to Pittsburgh
- St. Louis to Pittsburgh
- Cincinnati to Pittsburgh
- New Orleans to Pittsburgh
- Boise to Pittsburgh
- Richmond to Pittsburgh
- Birmingham to Pittsburgh
- Omaha to Pittsburgh
- Charleston to Pittsburgh
- El Paso to Pittsburgh